you loved Gus Wehle, and though I'm afraid you're making an idol out of him, and though I'm afraid he's an unbeliever, and I don't in any way like marrying with unbelievers, yet I did want to help you, and I brought a note from him once and put it under the head of your bed. I was afraid then I was doing what Timothy forbids when he says not to be partakers in other folks's sins, but, you see, how could I help doing it, when you was looking so woebegone like, and Jonas, he asked me to do it. It's awful hard to say you won't to Jonas, you know. So I put the letter there, and I don't doubt your ma mistrusted it, and got a hold on it."

"Did he write to me? Ain't he going with that Betsey Malcolm?"

"Can't be, I 'low. Only this evening Jonas said to me, says he, when I told him you was engaged to Mr. Humphreys, says he, in his way, 'The hawk's lit, has he? That'll be the death of two,' says he, 'for she'll die on it, an' so'll poor Gus,' says he. And then he went on to tell as Gus is all ready to leave, and had asked him to tell him of any news; but he said he wouldn't tell him that. He'd leave him some hope. For he says Gus was mighty nigh distracted today, that is yesterday, for it's most morning I 'low."

Now this speech did Julia a world of good. It showed her that Gus was not faithless, that she might count on Cynthy, and that Jonas was her friend, and that he did not like Humphreys. Jonas called him a hawk. That agreed with her dream. He was a hawk and a spider.

"But, Cynthy Ann, I got a letter night before last; ma threw it in the window. In it Gus said he released me. I hadn't asked any release. What did he mean?"

"Honey, I wish I could help you. It's that hawk, as Jonas calls him, that's at the bottom of all this trouble. I don't believe but what he's told some lies or another. I don't believe but what he's a bad man. I always said I didn't 'low no good could come of a man that puts on costly apparel and wears straps. I'm afraid you're making an idol of Gus Wehle. Don't do it. If you do, God'll take him. Misses Pearson made an idol of her baby, a kissing it and hugging it every minute, and I said, says I, Misses Pearson, you hadn't better make a idol of a perishing' creature. And sure enough, God took it. He's jealous of our idols. But I can't help helping you. You're an unbeliever yet yourself, and I 'low tain't no sin for you to marry Gus. It's yoking like with like. I wish you was both Christians. I'll speak to Jonas. I don't know what I ought to do, but I'll speak to Jonas. He's mighty peart about such 

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